I think its worst for girls to be denied decent practice. Many high school programs still have girls practice as much or even less yardage than master teams. I read this on the net, that one girl commented that they only practice 2,000 yards, while the boys I remember in high school had workouts of yardage between 5,000 to 10,000 befored they tapered. So, this ruling hurts girl swimmers more. This is the state of Missouri of course. This is from Phillip Whitten on the swimming world news on the internet. We complain about college programs being elimnated for boys or young men but what about the unfair treatment of girls in high school sports that can't practice on a USA swim Team during their high school years.
Parents
Former Member
I may be wrong on this (won't be the first or the last) - but in California a swimmer could still attend USA teams practices and swim in USA meets - they just couldn't swim in USA meets representing a team (ie they had to swim unattached during High School swim season). I coached High School swimming in Calif and we actually encouraged our swimmers to swim year round and attend their respective club practices, we had requirements for lettering in the sport (attend X amount of practices and X amount of swim meets or Score X amount of points at the league finals meet or qualify for CIF and of course remain academically eligible) which was set by the coaches. I do know that some school systems have strict requirements in regards to contact with swimmers during season and off (no practices on Sunday, during swim season we weren't allowed to coach a club team that had members of our high school team).
Jeff
I may be wrong on this (won't be the first or the last) - but in California a swimmer could still attend USA teams practices and swim in USA meets - they just couldn't swim in USA meets representing a team (ie they had to swim unattached during High School swim season). I coached High School swimming in Calif and we actually encouraged our swimmers to swim year round and attend their respective club practices, we had requirements for lettering in the sport (attend X amount of practices and X amount of swim meets or Score X amount of points at the league finals meet or qualify for CIF and of course remain academically eligible) which was set by the coaches. I do know that some school systems have strict requirements in regards to contact with swimmers during season and off (no practices on Sunday, during swim season we weren't allowed to coach a club team that had members of our high school team).
Jeff
